Food handling apparatus



N 9 1951 D. A. MEEKER ET AL 2,573,861

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 News, 1951 Original Filed Dec. 20, 1946 D. A. MEEKER ETAL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I 88 I 51 '77 85 v 90 v I I my 69 5K 45- 50 "53 i M 6560 v Q 51 1} V 44 v v v Q 1 WW WW I v 7 l I 72 v if 'INVENTOR. my; (m -v4. BY 4 mWUQM ATTORNEYS NW. 6, 1951 D. A. MEEKER ET AL FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M ml (V INVENTORS BY A ATTORNEYS l95H D. A. MEEKER ET AL 2,573,861

FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS Original Fild Dec. 20, 1946' I 4 Sheefis-Sheet 4 %MLML INVENTORS AT TOBNE YS Patented Nov. 6 i951 2,573,861 FOOD HANDLING APPARATUS David A. Meeker, Troy, and Ernest A. Reussenzchn, Dayton, Ohio, assignors' to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application December 20, 1946, Serial No. 717,566. Divided and this application August 28, 1948, Serial No. 46,615

2 Claims. (01. 146-102) This invention. relates to slicing machinesand is a division of patent application Serial No. 717,566, filed December 20, 1946.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a slicing machine of the gravity feed type which is simple and economical in construction and which is so arranged that with a minimum of effort the entire machine can be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

It is also an object of the'invention to provide such a machine which is constructed with a minimum number of parts which can be easily and cheaply manufactured and assembled, and in which the parts exposed to the foodstuff may be given a smooth surface finish facilitating the maintenance of the entire machine in a clean will be held in proper position to be received in.

latching engagement over an abutment is held by gravity.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a gravity feed slicing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine with the pusher plate in its inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view centrally through the work supporting carriage and the frame on the line 33 of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 4 is a view partially in plan and partially in section showing the construction of the pusher plate;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the end of the where it pusher plate arm showing the construction which protects the machine from accidental contact with the pusher plate;

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevational views showing different positions of the pusher plate with respect 4 to the work carriage.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on the line 8 -8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises a main base member l0 which extends across the entire lower portion of the machine,

serving as a base and main supporting frame. Preferably this member is made of a relatively lightweight material such as a suitable aluminumcontaining alloy so as to reduce the overall weight and keep the machine readily portable. If desired the outer exposed surface may be suitably finished to provide a smooth surface which can be readily kept in a clean and sanitary condition, such surface being either painted or preferably anodically treated. The base carries mountings for rubber cushion members II which may be located at the four corners to provide for resilient- 1y supporting the entire machine in non-slipping engagement and with the lower edge of the main frame raised slightly above the supporting surface.

At one sidethe frame member ID is formed with a generally rectangular opening l2 having a surrounding rim I3 which is relatively flat on top and thus is adapted to receive a slice tray l5. Preferably the frame member is grooved as indicated at l6 and I1, the grooves extending at right angles to each other along one side and end pro-' viding for the edge of the tray being slidably received and locked in position in the groove so I formed. The tray is retained in the groove by a single screw I8 which is located in the outer corner of the frame and is accessible from the lower side of the frame. Tray [5 may suitably be formed as either a molded metal, stamping or plastic element, the surface of which is smooth and easy to maintain in a clean and sanitary condition, and as will be evident from the drawings it extends over a substantial part of the length and width of the base, entirely underlying the gage plate 20 and the cutting portion of the knife 22.

The base I I] is formed with an integral upwardly extending part 25 at the rear side thereof which supports the knife 22' and drive therefor, and within this portion of the base there is received the drive motor, the end cap of which is shown at 2B and the control switch at 21. On the forward side, the main frame is provided with an integral upwardly extending curved part 28 which extends along the front face of the machine with a vertically extending wall portion 29 on the forward side, this curved portion 28 forming an enclosed cover construction for the supporting mounting for the carriage, the latter being shown as comprisingtwo plate portions, a near plate 30 toward the operators end of the machine and Between the rearward portion and the forward portion 28, the frame is formed with an integral curved part or collecting trough 33 which has a definite slope from the rear of the machine downwardly towardzthe slice tray l5, and this trough extends forwardly beyond the lowen-edge of the knife 22 and fully underlies the entire cutting arc of the knife and the adjacent portion of the gage plate where scraps are most likely to fall. Such scraps are receivedin the trough and either discharged-downwardly onto the slice tray, or are collected in a location from which they may be easily removed by. themperator, who has ready access to this portion of the machine because of the substantial radius of curvature of the portion 33 .and theifreedom of access from both ends thereof. The frame :.thus affords a continuous closed construction extending in impervious sealed relationship throughout the entire base of the machine, preventing downward passage of scraps of food material to the space below the frame, and facilitating the-collection and discharge of all such material in-a location from which it'can be easily removed. by a simple wiping operation.

The knife 22 is provided with suitable guard members 35 and 36 and a guard plate 31. The gage plate 20 is mounted in side-by-side relation with the knife 22 and at such an angle that it is substantially parallel with-the plane of the knife, both of these elements being supported with their planes substantially normal to the .downwardly inclined path of travel of the work material moving through the carriage. The mounting for the gage plate comprises a gage plate support 40 at the rear of the gage plate on which-the latter is mounted by-means of a series of bolts 4| through the use of a clamping plate 42. The member 40 is adjustably mounted on the wall of the base portion 28 to provide for a variation of the thickness of the slice, and it projectsdownwardly in enclosing relation over the clamping plate structure to facilitate the maintenance thereof in a clean and sanitarycondition.

In order to support the carriage for its reciprocating movement with its receiving surface inclined downwardly at the properangle, two parallel guide rods 44 and 45 are fixed in position in the main frame of the machine. As-shownin Fig. 3, rod 44 is located below and laterallydisplaced with respect to rod 45, both such rods-being within the frame portion 28. The lower shaft 44 carries a bearing member whichhaswan upwardly opening socket portion 5|. The upper rod 45 likewise carries a bearing member 52 of greater axial extent than member 50 and which also is provided with a downwardly opening socket member 53 which is in direct alignment with socket 5|. A pin 55 is held in socket 53 by means of set screw 56-and has free sliding-engagement with the cooperating socket 5|. This provides for fixedly relating the two socket members but permits limited movement of one relative to the other. as necessary to. compensatefor any misalignment in the two shafts 44 and.

The upper bearingmember 52 is providedwith a forwardly projecting part -60 which extends outwardly beneath the forward face 29 of the main frame member. Preferably a cover ;plate 6| is bolted in position on the front face'ofthe frame by means of bolts 62 (Fig. 2), enclosing the front side of the machine while leavingia space 63 in the form of a slot throughwhichthe part .60 projects and=whichittraverses in its reciprocating movement.

A curved supporting arm 65 (Fig. 3) is detachably mounted upon the member 60, having a downwardly opening notch 66 adapted to be received over and rearwardly of a headed stud 6'! secured tomember 60. Likewise the arm 65 car- 1165.32, clamping: plate 68 and a thumb screw 69 which provides for drawing the clamping plate into engagement with the upwardly extending plate 10 formed as a part of member 60. A spring 1| normallyretains the clamping plate in clearance. position, thus facilitating the movement of the arm into the operative relation shown in .Fig. 3. Thisis=established by engagement of the slotted end 66 over the stud 61, and when so en- ,gaged the thumb, screw 69 is tightened to draw the clamping plate'68 securely against the plate 10. -A handle 12 (Fig. 2) is provided on a rearwardly extending arm 13 formed integrally with the support 65 for reciprocating the carriage.

The two plates 30 and 3| of the work carriage are; arranged and mounted at right angles to each other. Preferably lthefar plate 3| is mounted at a greater angle to .the horizontal thanv plate 30, affording an improved support of the work during'the'cutting, and giving a longer slice, and as shown Fig. 6 these angles may be 50;and 40 respectively. Transversely of the machine, both plates are so supported on arm 65 that they'are inclined downwardly at an angle of about 45 and normal to the knife and gage plate as indicated in Fig. 3.

The near plate 30 is formed with an extended tongue portion 15 adjacent its lower side, to make sure that the material does not work beyond the rear edge of the carriage. The far plate 3| is provided with an outer lug l6 and an inner lug 18 between which there extends the slide rod 11. This rod serves as a support for the pusher plate assembly, comprising a pusher plate arm having roller bearings 8| spaced from each other and providing both for axial movement of the pusher plate arm along rod 11 and for the arcuate swinging of the pusher plate arm about the rod to lift the pusher plate away from the carriage.

In order to prevent interference between the pusher plate and the knife guard, means are pro vided for preventing the lifting of the pusher plate above the carriage while it is in its advance position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. This means comprises an inclined cam 82 (Fig. 5) located on lug 18, and which is adapted to cooperate with-a cam surface 83 formed on arm 80. The relationship of these cam surfaces is such that when the arm 80 is moved inwardly to its inner limit of travel adjacent the knife, the two cam surfaces will engage to prevent the pusher plate from being lifted above the tray to any material extent, thus assuring against interference between the pusher'plate and any portion of the knife or knife guard. If such operation is attempted, the cooperating sloping faces of the two cam surfaces will result in forcing the pusher plate arm rearwardly away from the knife, to such position that if lifted up no obstructionwill occur.

In order to prevent the pusher plate from being lifted:entirely clear of the tray inthe. greater portion of its movement toward and away from the knife, the upper edge 85 of the plate 3| extends adjacent a flange 86 formed on the lower side of the pusher plate arm 80. While this-permits the pusher plate armto be swung above the "carriage a limited .distance, it prevents "it from being lifted beyond 'the vertical position,

andsas shown 4 Fig. 66' it will not retain itself 5. in this raised position but will return by gravity to its position within the carriage.

Theupper edge 85 of plate 3! is relieved toward its outeredge as shown at 88, providing clearance for receiving flange 86 when the pusher plate arm is withdrawn to the outer limit of its travel away from the knife, thereby allowing the arm and pusher plate to be completely withdrawn from the tray and swung to an inoperative position.

The pusher plate 90 is provided with suitable work engaging spikes or teeth 9| on its lower surface, and its top surface 92 is formed with a continuous, long radius curvature such as that shown in Fig. 7. The pusher plate is mounted upon a shaft 93, the shaft being rotatably carried in pusher plate arm 80 as shown in Fig. 4. A handle 95 is keyed to the shaft by key 95 anda locking means 91 provides for retaining the handle in operative position thereon. The shaft 93 extends into a boss 99 formed on the pusher plate 90 and is non-rotatably pinned therein. On the outer surface of the boss a coil spring I is secured by means of bolt llll, the opposite end of the spring being secured in a suitable recess E02 in arm 80. Spring Hill thus tends to turn the pusher plate relative to its supporting arm. A stop pin I05 is suitably secured in the pusher plate and extends into position where it engages a rib I06 on the pusher plate arm thus forming a stop to prevent rotation of the pusher plate relative to its arm beyond a predetermined point.

In operation, the spring N is pre-loaded in assembly to provide for normally rotating the pusher plate on shaft 93 relative to the arm 80. This rotation continues until limited by the engagement of stop pin I05 with rib I06, this being the position of the pusher plate which will bring it into parallelismwith the face 30 of the carriage when lowered to its operative position as shown in Fig. '7. This is the position occupied by the pusher plate when it is used primarily for pushing or advancing the work material toward the knife. When however it is desired to engage the teeth 9! with the upper surface of a piece of meat or the like, which upper surface is usually not parallel with the supporting plate 30, the handle 95 is grasped and the pusher plate is twisted against the action of spring I00 to bring the teeth 9| into full gripping engagement with the upper surface of the work material. Upon release of the hand grip the spring I00 constantly tends to return the handle to the position described above in which it will be maintained in parallelism with the plate 30.

In order to receive and secure the pusher plate in its inoperative position, a locking pin 1 I!) (Fig. 3) is mounted on the arm 65 in a position beneath the tray. The forward face of the pusher plate is provided with a guiding groove l I l which leads in at an angle to a deeper recess I I2 which however does not extend entirely through the thickness of the pusher plate (Fig. 8), the groove Ill and recess H2 being separated by a land H5 which is flush with the remainder of the face of the pusher plate. When the pusher plate is withdrawn outwardly away from the knife to the clearance position described above and held in such withdrawn position against the action of gravity, it may then be swung about shaft 1! to the inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. When this operation is performed by the operator without turning the pusher plate shaft relative to the pusher plate arm, that is, by allowing the handle 95 to twist freely in his hand as the assembly is being swung to its inoperative position, the action of the spring I00 assures that the guide slot III will be in proper position to receive the pin H0. When the pusher plate is swung around to its inoperative position, it may then be allowed to drop downward slightly on shaft 11 toward the knife, whereupon the guide groove HI receives the pin IN], the latter in the final position of the pusher plate seating within recess H2 and against the land H5 to retain the pusher plate in inoperative position.

The spring I00 facilitates the securing of the pusher plate in such inoperative position and avoids the necessity of having to seek for the groove in the partially concealed area beneath the carriage, and makes it possible to latch the pusher plate in inoperative position by a simple swinging movement followed by the final dropping of the assembly into latched position under the action of gravity. As shown in Fig. 7, the pusher plate is not entirely concealed beneath the tray but has been moved to a position where it does not interfere with the direct feeding of work material through the tray and does not extend laterally beyond the end of the carriage remote from the operator so that no additional space is required to accommodate the full stroke of the carriage.

From the above it will be clear that the present invention provides a simple and highly satisfactory construction of slicing machine of the gravity feed type. With such machines, it is desirable to provide a predetermined position which will be normally assumed by the pusher plate, that position being the one in which it is parallel with the work receiving carriage. Thus when the pusher plate is picked up by the operator it is always normally in a proper position. By the application of manual pressure the operator can easily turn the pusher plate to bring it into full engagement with the upper surface of the work, but upon release it assumes its normal position and thus facilitates the handling of the material. Further this normal position is such that when the pusher plate is swung out of the carriage with the handle being allowed to turn in the hand of the operator so that the pusher plate retains its normal position relative to the arm, it will assume a relationship which is proper to establish latching engagement of the pusher plate with the retaining abutment. This is particularly advantageous in the gravity feed machine inasmuch as the latching is desirably effected under the action of gravity, and it is desirable to establish and retain the parts in proper relative position where the latching engagement will be facilitated.

The entire machine is constructed simply and in such manner as to contribute to the maintenance of all parts in a proper working relation and substantially eliminating looseness or play and assure the maintenance of smooth working conditions and proper adjustment throughout.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a food slicing machine of the gravity feed type, a base, a work receiving carriage having a downwardly inclined work supporting surface, a rotary knife mounted on said base for rotation 7 in ,an inclined plane substantially normal to said work supporting surface, a shaft mounted along the side edge of said carriage substantially parallel with said work supporting surface, a pusher plate arm mounted on said shaft for rotational movement and for lateral movement in an inclined direction parallel to said carriage surface, a pusher plate and a manual grip fixed thereto and pivotally mounted on said pusher plate arm for limited rotational movement on said arm to engage work material on said carriage surface in operative position and for rotational movement with said'arm on said shaft around said carriage edge to an inoperative position below said carriage surface, complementary means for retaining said pusher plate and arm in said inoperative position, said retaining means including an abutment and a retainer therefor located one on said carriage and the other on said pusher plate entirely independently of said arm, said retaining means being positioned for interfitting engagement by gravity action upon said rotational movement of aid pusher plate and arm to said inoperative position, retaining means being arranged for relative disengagement upon rotational movement of said pusher plate and arm from said inoperative position, and stop means on said pusher plate and said arm for locating said pusher plate in predetermined angular relation with said arm so that when said pusher plate is in said operative position it is substantially parallel with said work supporting surface of said carriage to establish a reference position of said retaining means on said pusher plate for automatic engagement thereof with said retaining 8, means on said carriage upon movement of said arm to said inoperative position.

2. A food slicing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the retaining means includes an upwardly projecting abutment on said carriage below said work supporting surface for retaining said pusher plate and arm in said inoperative position, saidpusher plate having a recess located therein entirely independently of said arm for receiving said abutment therein by gravity action upon said rotational movement of said pusher plate and arm to said inoperative position, said recess and abutment being arranged for relative disengagement upon said rotational movement of said pusher plate and arm fromsaid inoperative position, and means on said pusher plate forming a cam surface for' cooperation with said abutment upon said rotational movement of said arm to guide said pusher plate into the position of interfitting engagement of said recess therein with said abutment when said pusher plate is in said predetermined angular relation with said arm.

DAVID A. MEEKER. ERNEST A. REUSSENZEHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,840,845 Lucey Jan. 12, 1932 1,944,181 Johnston Jan. 23, 1934 2,007,823 Campbell July 9, 1935 2,438,937 Metzler Apr. 6, 1948 

